Writing instrument



Aug. 17, 1965 N. A. zEPELL WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed may s1, 196s m, faQ/Czw, wy ma n. 5ill United States Patent O 3,299,792 l/VPTNG ENSTRUMENT Nathan A. Zepell, Marina City, Apt. 5033, Stili N. State St., Chicago, Ill. Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,432 7 Claims. (Cl. 12d-42.03)

This invention relates to motion-translating devices and, more particularly, to motion translating devices which may be utilized in retractable-point writing instruments.

It is frequently desirable to translate the linear motion of one element of a mechanism into a linear motion of a second element s0 as to cause the second element to move in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of the iirst element. Such a situation arise-s, for example, in the operation of certain writing instruments having a retractable writing unit, ln one particular form of such an instrument, the longitudinal movement of .the writing unit is effected by lateral movement of a portion of the pocket clip of the instrument. Accordingly, in such an instrument, linear movement of a portion of the pocket clip transversely of the longitudinal axis of the instrument is translated into linear movement of the writing point assembly longitudinally of the instrument.

in the case of a writing instrument, as well as in many other structures in -which a form of motion translation is utilized, it is desirable that the motion translating device be of simple design so as to lend itself to ease of assembly of the structure in which it is located. Hence, it is desirable that the device be composed of a minimum of parts. Also, such a motion translating device preferably is of such a design that it occupies a relatively small amount of space and can thus be utilized in small instruments without appreciably increasing the size thereof. Finally, such a device should be inexpensive to produce and yet be formed of materials which will render it durable and capable of withstanding extensive use.

The following description and the accompanying drawings relate to an improved motion translating device as incorporated in a retractable-point writing instrument. However, it is to be understood that such a device may be incorporated in other instruments or mechanisms if desired.

A principal object of .the present invention is to provide an improved motion-translating device.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved motion-translating device which involves a minimum of frictional resistance in its operation.

A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved retractable-point `writing instrument incorporating the improved motion-translating device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motiontranslating device which includes a minimum of moving parts.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a motion-translating device for a retractable-point writing instrument, which device is durable and capable of being easily and economically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved motion-translating device for a retractable-point writing instrument which can lbe molded as an integral unit with the body of the instrument in a single operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

1n the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a writing instrument showing various of the features of the invention;

CII

3,2%@3'92 Patented Aug. l?, i965 ice este

EGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of a modified form of the writing instrument shown in FGURE l FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line 33 of FlGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front View of the writing instrument illustrated in FGURE 2, with a portion thereof being shown in phantom;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational View, partially in section, of a modified form of the writing instrument shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FEGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a method in which a portion of the writing instrument of FIGURES l and 2 may be molded;

FGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a method in which the body of a modified form of the writing instrument of FIGURE 1 may be molded; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of an alternate embodiment of lthe writing instrument .shown in FlGURE 1.

Very generally, a writing instrument il is shown in the drawings and comprises an elongated hollow holder i3 having an opening .l5 at one end. An elongated writing lunit i7, a portion of which deiines an upwardly directed surface i9, is disposed within the holder and is movable longitudinally therein between an advanced position extending through the opening l5 and a retracted position` A biasing spring 2l urges the writing unit toward the retracted position, and a motion translator including a hinged actuating member 23 movable inwardly of the holder in response to rocking movement of a pocket clip 25 is provided for moving the writing unit from the retracted position toward the advanced position.

More specically, the hollow holder i3 is preferably formed out of an easily molded material, such as polypropylene plastic which, for reasons which. will hereinafter be set forth, has been found to be particularly suitable. rl`he holder includes a cap Z7 and a barrel Z9 which, when the holder is assembled, are releasably interconnected intermediate the ends thereof. The sections may therefore be disconnected to permit replacement or servicing of the writing unit ll' when necessary.

In the embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FGURE l, the cap and barrel are provided with mating threads in the area of interconnection, with the lower end of the cap 27 defining a female portion and the upper end of the barrel 29 having a somewhat reduced outer diameter and defining a male portion. An alternate form of interconnection of the cap and barrel of the holder is shown in FGURE 7 `and will be described in detail shortly.

The walls of the holder i3 define an elongated generally cylindrical cavity El within which the writing unit 17' is disposed. The portion of the barrel 29 which defines the lower end of the cavity 3l is provided with the opening l5 through which the writing unit is advanced, and includes an upwardly facing annular shoulder 33 upon which the lower convolution of the coilspring 2l is supported. The cavity 31 terminates adjacent its upper end in a generally cylindrical chamber 35 of a relatively lesser diameter. This chamber is defined by side wall portions 37 of the cap 27, these side wall portions being of comparatively greater thickness than the portions of the side wall of the remainder of the cap and of the barrel.

In order to facilitate the attachment to the cap of the pocket clip 2S, a slot 39 extends inwardly through a portion of the wall 37 into the cylindrical chamber 35 and is adapted to receive and anchor in place an outwardly extending portion of the pocket clip 25, to be described shortly. Spaced downwardly from the slot 39 but in vertical alignment therewith is a rectangular aperture lli (FIG. 4) which accommodates the actuating member 23 i and through which a second portion of the pocket clip 2S is projected to cause hinged movement of the actuating member.

The elongated writing unit 17 carried Within the cavity 31 of the holder 13 may be of various constructions utilizing either conventional pencil lead or ink `as a writing medium. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the writing unit is in the form of a ball-pointed cartridge and includes a generally cylindrical ink reservoir 41 having a tapered lower end portion 43 which is of a substantially lesser diameter than the reservoir 47 and is encircled by the coil spring 21, the upper convolution of which rests against a shoulder 45 provided at the upper end of the tapered lower end portion. The tapered lower end portion terminates in a point defining a socket which receives a ball 49 by means of which ink from the reservoir is transferred to the paper or other messagereceiving medium in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

Adjacent its upper end, the writing unit 17 defines the upwardly-directed surface 19 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is disposed generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the unit but which may also be angularly disposed. The surface 19 is generally hat and is adapted to be engaged by the hinged actuating member 23, soon to be described. As seen in the drawings, the surface 19 is dened by theupper end wall of a cap or plug 53 which covers the upper end of the ink reservoir 41, and which includes a groove and air Vent (not shown).

It will be seen, therefore, that the elongated writing unit 17 is movable longitudinally of the cavity 31 from a retracted position, wherein it is completely enclosed by the holder and toward which position it is urged by the coil spring 21, and an -advanced position in which the lower end thereof extends through the opening at the lower end of the barrel.

Movement of the writing unit from the retracted to the advanced position is accomplished by a motion translator in the form of the actuating member 23 hingedly attached to the holder 13 adjacent the lower end of the rectangular aperture 40 and defining, in effect, a displaceable portion of the wall of the holder. The actuating member is formed in the shape of a knuckle disposed in overlying engagement with the flat upwardly-directed surface 19 of the writing unit 17 When the writing unit 17 is retracted, the position of the knuckle determines its upper limit of movement. When the pocket clip is rotated so as to move the actuating member inwardly of the holder 13, as hereinafter described, the writing unit is urged downwardly until the point 47 thereof extends through the opening 15 of the barrel. The pocket clip 25 is also effective in maintaining the writing unit in the advanced position.

More particularly, hinged attachment of the actuating member 23 to the holder 13 may be accomplished in various ways but, in the illustrated embodiment, it is accomplished by the molding of the actuating member integrally with the cap 27 of the holder so as to be connected to the holder adjacent the lower edge of the aperture by a thin exible strip 54 which serves as a hinge. Accordingly,'in such a construction, the cap of the holder is preferably molded of a flexible, durable material, and the thermoplastic polypropylene has been found to be ideal in this regard in that it is capable of withstanding repeated flexures, is inexpensive, and lends itself well to `the desired molding techniques. Of course, the actuating member 23 and strip 54 may be molded separately from the holder if desired and attached to a preformed cap by any of a number of possible methods.

The knuckle-shaped actu-ating member 23 has generally flat parallel side walls 55 (FIG. 3) a curved edge wall 57 directed inwardly of the holder, and a generally dat edge wall 59 facing outwardly of the holder. The surface of the curved edge wall 57 contacts the upwardly directed surface 19 of the writing unit when hinged movement of the actuating member causes the actuating member to be moved inwardly of the holder. Accordingly, there is a rolling engagement between the at surf-ace 19 and edge wall 57 which offers a minimum of frictional resistance to the movement of the actuating member and writing unit and provides a substantial advantage over various other clip-operated retractable-point writing instruments.

The flat outwardly-directed Vsurface 59 of the actuating member 23 occupies, and provides `a closure for, the aperture il? when the writing unit is retracted (FIGS. 2 and 4) and, when the writing unit is advanced (FIG. l), is disposed in an upwardly facing position wherein it is engaged `by the lower end of the pocket clip so as to be rest-rained against return movement, thereby maintaining y the writing unit in the advanced position.

It should be noted at this point that although the actuating member 23 is effective, when 4moved inwardly of the holder 13, to urge the writing unit 17 downwardly, it is itself urged upwardly and into an aperture-closing position (FIGS. 2 and 4) by the writing unit, which is in tu-rn urged upwardly by the coil spring 21. The actuating member is prevented from being urged past an apertureclosing position outwardly of the holder, i.e., outwardly through the aperture 4d, by a latch or hook 61 projecting from the curved edge wall 57 of the actuating member adjacent the flat edge wall 59. The latch i-s provided with a smooth, gradually rising `surface 6C on one side which blends in with the curved edge wall 57 and, as will here-` inafter be described, facilitates the assembly of the instrument. The latch 61 (FIG, 7) also includes a ilat surface dening a shoulder 65 on its `opposite side, the shoulder serving to engage the inner wall of the cap immediately above the aperture Si? when the actuating member is in an aperture-closing position. The latch thus prevents passage of the .actuating member through the aperture in an outward direction but, as hereinafter described, permits the actuating member to 'be moved through the aperture inwardly of the holder.

It has been found preferably, when the actuating member is formed as an `integral part of the holder 13, to mold it on the outside of, rather th-an within, the holder (FIG. 6), and then insert it through the aperture tti during an initial assembly operation. Accordingly, the curved surface 63 of the latch serves to facilitate this initial insertion of the actuating member and latch through the aperture. The latch may be molded -as a solid projection (FIG. 7) or may, as is shown -in FIG- URES 1 through 6, be molded in the form of an upwardly extending lip having a cavity 67 therebeneath. With the llatter construction, the lip will flex downwardly as the actuating member is inserted inwardly through the aperture 40, but will return to an upwardly projecting position after the actuating member has been so inserted. The latch 61 thus renders the actuating member 23 self `locking within the holder aft-er it has been inserted through the aperture,

Hinged downward movement of ythe actuating member from the aperture-closing position may be accomplished 'by various means, such as by directing a lateral force against the at edge wall 5h. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating member is moved by means of the pocket clip 25 which may be solid and formed of plastic (FIGS. 1 and 5 or may be of `a hollow construction and formed of lmetal (FIG. 2). If the pocket clip is formed `of plastic, it may be formed independently of the cap and secured thereto (FIG. 1), or may be molded integrally with the cap (FIG. 5) or with the cap and barrel (FIG. 7).

Referring now to the embodiment of the pocket clip shown in FIGURE l, the clip. comprises an elongated shank portion 69 having a bead 71 at its lower end and provided adjacent its upper end with an inwardly directed projection defining a fulcrum 73. The fulcrurn is located in spaced relation to the upper end of the clip and engages the outer surface of the cap so that, by the application of pressure adjacent either end of the outer surface of the shank $9, the clip will be rotated about the iulcrum and move the bead 7l toward and away from the outer surface of the cap. These surfaces at the ends of the shank 69 are preferably provided with grooves, as at 75, to facilitate application of pressure thereto Lby the thumb or linger.

Projecting rearwardly from the clip in the vicinity of the cap-engaging portion of the fulcrum is a dat arm or anchor 77 which is adapted to extend into the slot 39 in the cap and into the cylindrical chamber 35 at the upper end of the cavity 3l. The anchor 7? includes a tongue adjacent its outermost end, i.e., the end thereof which is fartherest from the shank of the pocket clip, which tongue is oi'set from the plane of the arm so as to provide an edge facing in the direction of the shank and engageable `with the inner surface of the wall 37 of the cap, thereby preventing withdrawal of the anchor from the slot. he anchor is suhficiently rigid, and the material of which the clip is formed suificiently resilient, such that when the anchor is inserted and secured in the slot 35i, the earl fl will be urged in the direction of the cap, as in the conventional pocket clip. Accordingly, the bead is disposed with its inwardly-directed surface in resting engagement with the flat edge wall 559 of the actuating member when the wirin unit is retracted and the actuatir:U member is in an aperture-closing position.

lt will be noted from the drawing-s that the distance between the fulcrum 'i3 or" the shank and the lower end yof the shank coinsides generally with the distance between the slot 39 of the cap `and the lower edge of the aperture de'. When the actuating member is in the aperture-closing position, the resiliency of the clip 2e biases the bead 7i in the direction of the wall 59 oi tl e actuating member and the biasing eil-ect of the coil spring El of the writing unit t7 urges the wall E@ of the actuating member 23 in the direction of the bead 7l.. These counter-biasing forces maintain the bead and actuating member in balance.

It will also be noted that the size of the bead '7l is approximately equal to the size of the aperture itl both in heig 1t (FIG. l) and in width (FlG. 3), but may be made smaller than the aperture itl it desired. Accordingly, when the pocket clip is rotated in a clockwise direction (FIG. l) about the fulcrum 73, the bead will be moved inwardly through the aperture and will dis place the actuating member 23, which is thus caused te swing downwardly by virtue of its hinged attachment to the cap 27 and to move the writing unit downwardly, as has already been described. Preferably, the lower inner edge of the bead is curved so as to provide for a rolling engagement between the bead 7l and the flat edge wall 59 of the actuating member, thereby eliminating frictional resistance to the movement of the pocket clip.

rthe pocket clip 2S also serves to maintain the writing point assembly in an advanced position when the bead 'il ot the pocket clip is disposed inwardly of the holder. ln this regard, the lower' end of the bead is adapted to overlie the dat upwardly-directed edge wall 57 of the actuating member 2.3 when the bead is fully inserted through the aperture iin the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of the bead is flat and, when the bead overlies the flat surface 59, the friction between the surface of the bead and actuating member, as enhanced by the biasing force of the spring 2l urging the actuating member in the direction of the bead, is sutlicient to maintain the bead within the holder and, hence, to maintain the actuating member in an inwardly disposed position and the writing unit in an advanced position. lt desired, of course, the mutually engaging surfaces of the bead and actuating member may be provided with cooperating detents and notches, or suitably roughened, to enhance the frictional forces therebetween.

Certain modiiications of the pocket clip 2e' are shown cussion relating thereto.

in FIGURES 2 and 5. In the modification of FIGURE 2, a pocket clip Si is formed of metal, as by a stamping, forging, or casting operation, and comprises a shank @a including an outer wall 83 and side walls 35. The outer wall 83 is curled at the lower end of the shank to form a bead 71a, and is offset adjacent the upper end of the shank so as to extend outwardly, downwardly, and then outwardly. The upper outwardly extending portion renders the clip flat, rather than pointed, at its upper end, thereby lessening the possibility of clothing being caught on a pointed upper end of the clip, and the lower outwardly extending portion forms an attaching anchor '77a having a tongue 79a. The anchor 77a is secured within a slot 39 of a cap 27a as is the anchor 77 in the principal embodiment.

The side walls 35 of the clip Slt enclose the sides of the bead lila at the lower end of the shank 69a and, adjacent the upper end thereof, project inwardly toward the outer surface of the cap in parallel relation to one another so as to provide a pair of guards S7. The upper section of the cap Elia adjacent the guards 37 is recessed, as at 89, to receive the guards and upper outwardly projecting portion of the shank when the clip is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

ln the embodiment illustrated in FGURE 5, a clip 9i is shown which is formed integral with a cap 27b and is, therefore, a solid plastic. The clip 9i includes a shank having a bead lb at its lower end and a tuicrurn 73h on its inner surface. The clip 91 is connected to a cap 93 by a thin section 95 of material. Biasing of the clip so as to urge the bead in the direction of the aperture dill) is accomplished by a small lear" spring 97 of a somewhat Vehape inserted intermediate the inner portion of the shank above the iulcrum .lb and the adjacent portion of the cap, the spring 9'7" being maintained in place by suitable recessing of the clip and cap.

FGURE 6 illustrates a preferred method of molding the actuating member 23 and cap 13 of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 in a single operation. As shown, the actuating member is molded with its flat edge wall 59 lying generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder. The actuating member may also be molded with the dat edge wall lying in a plane generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the holder, however, as shown by the broken lines of FIGURE 6. ln each case, however, the actuating member is molded outside ot, as opposed to within, the holder, and in each case the latch 6l is formed as a lip with a cavity 67 therebeneath.

FGURE 7 illustrates a method of molding in which a holder 99 including a cap lill, a barrel w3, and a pocket clip 13S are all molded as a single piece, preferably from polypropylene, thus appreciably reducing the assembly costs of producing the instrument. More specically, the cap lill of the holder 99 is of a generally hollow construction, closed at one end, and tapering slightly inwardly from its open end toward its closed end. The open end or" the cap tbl is countersunk, as at 107, to receive a portion of the barrel, and an annular groove itl? is provided at the inner end of the countersink to rece-ive a protruding bead lill of the barrel w3, as hereinafter described.

The clip ltl is molded integral with the cap as in the manner shown in FIGURE 5 and described in the dis- The clip 1615 includes a shank M3 having a bead ll at its lower end, and may be biased with a leaf spring similar to the spring 97 or, as in the illustrated embodiment, molded with the bead 115 in an inwardly projecting position such that when the shank and bead are withdrawn in the assembly of the instrument, they will be biased inwardly due to the natural lresiliency of the material from which the unit is formed.

The barrel i163 has a shape generally similar to that of the barrel 2% of the holder 13 shown in FIGURE 1.

However, unlike the holder 13, the cap and barrel 101 and 103 of the holder 99 are hingedly interconnected, as at 117. The upper end of the barrel is formed to provide a neck 119 of reduced diameter adapted to fit within the countersink107 of the cap, and the upper edge of the neck opposite the hinge 117 is provided with a bead (or beads) 111 which occupies the groove 109 of the cap, when the holder is assembled.

It will be noted that the cap 101 of the holder 99 does not include an aperture such as the aperture 4@ of the embodiment of FIGURE l to receive a motion translator. Rather, the barrel 103 is provided with a rectangular slot 121 extending downwardly from the upper edge of the barrel, the lower edge of the slot having hingedly attached thereto an actuating member 123 similar to the member 23 of the embodiment of FIGURE l except that a latch 125 provided on the actuating member is in the form of a solid projection rather than a lip. When the holder 39 is assembled, the slot 121 defines a rectangular aperture adjacent the actuating member 123.

The holder 99 is preferably molded with the cap barrel 101 and 1113 arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to each other. The clip 165, as previously mentioned, is molded with its bead 115 projected inwardly so as t-o provide a biasing effect, and the actuating member 123 is molded outwardly with its flat edge wall disposed trans versely to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 1113 (as shown in the broken-line representation of FIGURE 6). The writing instrument shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawing and designated in its entirety by the numeral 127 lends itself particularly Well to manufacture from metal, although other rigid or semi-rigid materials would of course also be suitable. The instrument 127 comprises a cap 129 of hollow thin-walled construction tapering gradually from its lower toward its upper end to provide a streamlined and attractive appearance. An aperture 131 is provided in a side wall of the cap in spaced relation to the lower end thereof to provide access to an internally disposed actuating member 133, hereinafter described.

Carried within the lower end of the cap 129 is a cylindrical block 135, the lower portion of which is preferably formed, as by the provision of threads or the like, so as to facilitate attachment of the cap to a barrel (not shown). A passageway 137 extends longitudinally through the block 135 and slidably receives the upper portion of a writing unit 139 which may be of the same construction as the writing unit 17, previously described, and includes an upwardly directed surface 141 at its upper end. A portion of the upper end of the block 135 opposite the aperture 131 projects inwardly of the passageway 137 and delines a downwardly directed shoulder 143 which engages the upwardly directed surface 141 of the writing unit and limits upward movement of the writing unit as well as positions the surface 141 in the vicinity of the aperture 131 when the writing unit is in the retracted position.

A portion of the edge wall of the block 135 adjacent the aperture 131 and opposite the shoulder 141 of the block is cut-away to provide a seat 145 for the actuating member 133, the upper edge of the seat 145 being located, in the illustrated embodiment, at the approximate level of the lower edge of the aperture 131. The actuating member is essentially L-shaped in cross-sectional configuration so as to include arms 147 and 149 disposed at generally right angles to each other. The actuating member 133 is hingedly mounted on the seat 145 by means of a pin 151 which extends through the outer end portion of the arm 147 and through a portion of the seat. If desired, either the seat 145 or the outer end portion of the arm 147 may be bifurcated to facilitate hinged attachment.

As can be seen in FIGURE 8, when the writing unit 139 is in the retracted position, the arm 147 of the actuating memberv 133 is generally vertically disposed and the arm 149 is generally horizontally disposed. The end of the arm 149 overlies and engages the ilat upwardly directed surface 1111 of the writing unit and is enlarged and rounded to provide a substantially rolling engagement with the surface 141. When the member 133 is swung Iinwardly about the pin 151, it urges the writing unit downwardly in a manner similar to the action of the actuating member 23.

The length of the arm 147 is preferably slightly greater than the distance between the seat 145 and the edge of the aperture 131 so that, when the writing unit is in the retracted position and the arm 147 is generally upright, the arm extends past the upper edge of the aperture 131 and engages that portion of the wall of the cap immediately above the upper edge of the aperture. Accordingly, the upper edge of the arm 147 serves as a stop which prevents the actuating member from passing outwardly through the aperture 131. The arm 147 is also perferably of such a width that it will effectively span the aperture when in an erect position and thus close the aperture.

Hinged movement .of the actuating member 133 is accomplished in the instrument 127 by a pocket clip 153 which includes a shank 155 having a bead 157 at its lower end directed inwardly toward the outer surface of the cap, and offset inwardly and then downwardly at its opposite end to form a hook, the upper edge of which rests upon the upper edge of the cap in a notch 159 provided in the upper edge. The downwardly directed portion of the hook is bent outwardly slightly intermediate its ends to provide a fulcrurn 161 which engages the inner surface or the wall of the cap.

r111e clip 153 is held in place by a plug 163 which occupies the upper end of the cap 129 and which is cutaway, as at 165, in the vicinity of the clip to receive and provide clearance for the clip when it is flexed. The plug is provided with a flange 167 at its lower end which engages the fulcrum 151 and maintains it in contact with the wall of the cap. Y In the operation of the instrument, movement of the clip so as to cause the bead 157 to pass inwardly'of the cap through the aperture 131 causes hinged movement of the actuating member 133 such as moves the writing unit downwardly to an advanced position. When the writing unit is in such a position, the lower end of the bead overlies the arm 147 of the actuating member and, as in the operation of the clip 25 and actuating member 23 of the principal embodiment, maintains the writing unit in the advanced position.

It will be noted in FIGURE 8 that when the clip 153 is in its outermost position, as shown in full lines of FIG- URE 8, the lower end of the depending portion of the hook engages the inner surface of the wall of the cap so as to bias the clip in a manner which urges the bead 157 inwardly. However, when the clip is rotated so as to move the bead inwardly, the lower end of the depending portion of the hook is disengaged from the inner surface of the wall of the cap so that the clip is no longer biased and will remain within the aperture 131. Also, when the bead is projected inwardly through the aperture 131, the upper portion of the shank is projected outwardly due to the rotating of the clip about the fulcrum 161, which outwardly projecting portion will be moved inwardly to withdraw the bead from the aperture and release the writing unit for return to the retracted position.

The writing instrument thus described affords the convenience of a retractable writing point assembly, yet includes a minimum of movable parts. If desired, the entire body of the instrument, exclusive of the writing unit and biasing spring, can be molded as a single unit. The instrument therefore is quite inexpensive to manufacture in that a minimum of parts need be produced and assembled. The instrument is durable in use and, because of its simplicity of construction, presents the minimum possibilityV of mechanical failure.

While various of the structural features of the invention have been shown and described with respect to one specific anode/9e Q embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit defining an upwardly directed surface, biasing means in said holder urging said writing unit towards said retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position towards said advanced position, said means comprising a hinged actuating member movable inwardly of said holder and rotatable downwardly therein, said hinged actuating member being an integral portion of the wall of said holder, said movement of said actuating member being effective to cause the engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said actuating member such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, and clip means directly in contact with said hinged actuating member for applying a force to said actuating member having a component extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said holder, said force being effective to cause hinged movement of said actuating member inwardly of said holder and to thereby move said writing unit into said advanced position, said writing unit being locked in said writing position by means of said biasing means urging said writing unit against said hinge actuating member and in turn against said clip means component.

2. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, a portion integral with the wall of said holder and forming a part thereof, being displaceable inwardly relative to the remainder thereof and being hinged immediately adjacent to said wall portion for movement inwardly of said holder and rotatable downwardly therein, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit delining an upwardly directed surface, a biasing spring in said holder urging said writing unit in said retracted position, wherein movement of said portion integral with the wall of said holder inwardly of said holder is effective to cause engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, and clip means for applying a force to said portion integral with the wall of said holder having a component extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said holder, said force being effective to cause hinged movement of said integral wall portion inwardly of said holder to thereby move said writing unit into said advanced position, said writing unit being locked in said advanced position by means of said biasing spring urging said writing unit against said portion integral with the wall of said holder and in turn against said clip means component.

3. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, a portion of the wall of said holder being displaceable relative to the remainder thereof and being hinged immediately adjacent said wall portion for movement between a walldefining position and a position wherein it extends inwardly of said holder, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a position of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit defining an upwardly directed surface, a biasing spring in said holder urging said writing unit toward said retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position toward said advanced position, said means comprising an inwardly directed surface on the displaceable portion of said wall of said holder, at least a portion of said inwardly directed surface being disposed in overlying engagement with the upwardly directed surface of said writing unit when said unit is in said retracted position wherein the biasing of said writing unit toward said retracted position is effective to urge said displaceable wall portion into said wall-deiining position, movement of said displaceable wall portion inwardly of said holder being ei'r'ective to cause an engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said inwardly directed surface of said displaceable wall portion such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position and, means for applying a force directly to said displaceable wall portion having a component extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis the said holder, said force being effective to cause hinged movement of said displaceable wall portion inwardly of said holder and to thereby move said writing unit into said advanced position, said writing unit being loclred in advanced position by said spring urging said writing unit against said inwardly directed surface and in turn against said component applying said torce.

4i. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit defining an upwardly directed surface, biasing means in said holder urging said writing unit toward said retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position toward said advanced position, said means comprising a hinged actuating member forming a part of the wall of said holder movable inwardly of said holder, said hinged actuating member being hinged on said holder immediately adjacent to said actuating member, said movement of said actuating member being effective to cause an engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said actuating member such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, and an elongated clip disposed externally of said holder and including a bead projecting in the direction of said holder, said clip being mounted on said holder with said bead disposed adjacent said hinged actuating member and being movable so as to eil'ect engagement between said bead and said actuating member such as will cause hinged movement of said actuating member inwardly of said holder, thereby causing movement of said writing unit into said advanced position, said writing unit being locked in advanced position by said spring urging said writing unit against said activating member and in turn against said bead.

5. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, yan elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit defining an upwardly directed surface, biasing means in said` holder urging said writing unit toward said retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position toward said advanced position, said means comprising a hinged actuating member forming a part of the wall of said holder movable inwardly of said holder, said movement of said actuating member being effective to cause an engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said actuating member such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, and an elongated clip disposed externally of said holder and including a bead projecting in the direction of said holder, said clip being pivotally mounted on said holder with said bead disposed adjacent said hinged actuating member, pivotal movement of said clip in a given direction being eiective t0 cause said bead to move in the direction of said actuating member such as will cause hinged movement of said actuating member inwardly of said holder, thereby causing movement of said writing unit being locked in advanced position by said biase-d for pivotal movement in said given direction, said ,writing unit being locked in advanced position by said spring urging said writing unit against said activating member and in turn against said bead. Y

6. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, a portion of the wall of said holder being displaceable relative to the remainder thereof and being hinged imme-diately adjaoent said wall portion for movement inwardly of said holder, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit dening an upwardly directed surface, a biasing spring in said holder urging said writing unit toward said retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position toward said advanced position, said means comprising an inwardly directed surface on the displaceable portion or said wall of said holder, movement of said displaceable wall portion inwardly of said holder being effective to cause an engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said inwardly directed surface of said displaceable wall portion such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, an elongated clip disposed externally of said holder, said clip including a bead projecting in the direction of said holder and a shoulder on said bead, said clip being mounted on said holder with said bead disposed adjacent said displaceable wall portion and being movable so as to cause said bead to displace said wall portion inwardly of the said holder so as to urge said writing unit into said advanced position, said movement of said clip being also effective to move said bead inwardly of said holder into a position wherein said shoulder of said bead engages said displaceable wa-ll portion so as to maintain said Wall portion in an inwardly directed position, thereby maintaining said writing unit in said advanced position, and means for moving said clip so as to move said bead outwardly of said holder and release said writing unit for biased movement of said retracted position.

7. A writing instrument comprising an elongated hollow holder having an opening at one end, a portion of the wall or said holder being displaceable relative to the remainder thereof and being hinged for movement'inwardly of said holder, an elongated writing unit longitudinally movable within said holder between an advanced position wherein a portion of said unit extends through said opening at said one end and a retracted position, said writing unit defining an upwardly directed surface, a biasing spring in said holder urging said writing unit toward sai-d retracted position, means for moving said writing unit from said retracted position toward said advanced position, said rneans comprising an inwardly directed surface on the displaceable portion of said wall of sai-d holder, movement of said displaceable wall portion inwardly of said holder being efiective to cause an engagement between said upwardly directed surface of said writing unit and said inwardly directed surface of said displaceable wall portion such as will urge said writing unit into said advanced position, an elongated resilient clip disposed externally of said holder and inciuding a shank and a bead projecting from one side of said shank adjacent an end thereof, an anchor extending from said one side of said shank intermediate the ends thereof and including an offset tongue, saidanchor being adapted to occupy a slot in said holder and being retained therein by engagement of said tongue with the inner surface of the wall of said holder, said slot being located in spaced relation to said displaceable wall portion so as to position said bead adjacent said displaceable wall por tion and being movable so as to cause said bead to displace said wall portion inwardly of said holder thereby urging said writing unit into said advanced position, said anchor being so formed relative to said shank that when said anchor is disposed in the said slot of said holder, said shank is biased by the resiliency of the material of which it is formed so as to urge said bead in the direction of said displaceable wall portion, said writing unit being locked in advanced position by said spring urging said writing unit against said activating member and in turn against said bead.

References Cite-d by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,897 6/20 Johnson. 2,494,130 l/SO Israelson --84 X 2,899,931 8/59 Bross 120-42-03 X 2,988,055 6/61 Platt 1Z0-42.03 3,075,496 U63 Zepelovitch 1Z0-42.03

FOREIGN PATENTS 689,068 5/30 France. 1,086,929 8/54 France.

338,408 6/ 21 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, JERGME SCHNALL,

Examiners. 

1. A WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW HOLDER HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END, AN ELONGATED WRITING UNIT LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID HOLDER BETWEEN AN ADVANCED POSITION WHEREIN A PORTIO NOF SAID UNIT EXTENDS THROUGH SAID OPENING AT SAID ONE END AND A RETRACTED POSITION, SAID WRITING UNIT DEFINING AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE, BIASING MEANS IN SAID HOLDER URGING SAID WRITING UNIT TOWARDS SAID RETRACTED POSITION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID WRITING UNIT FROM SAID RETRACTED POSITION TOWARDS SAID ADVANCED POSITION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A HINGED ACTUATING MEMBER MOVABLE INWARDLY OF SAID HOLDER AND ROTATABLE DOWNWARDLY THEREIN, SAID HINGED ACTUATING MEMBER BEING AN INTEGRAL PORTION OF THE WAL OF SAID HOLDER, SAID MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER BEING EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID UPWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE OF SAID WRITING UNIT SAID ACTUATING MEMBER SUCH AS WILL URGE SAID WRITING UNIT INTO SAID ADVANCED POSITION, AND CLIP MEANS DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH SAID HINGED ACTUATING MEMBER FOR APPLYING A FORCE TO SAID ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING A COMPONENT EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HOLDER, SAID FORCE BEING EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE HINGED MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER INWARDLY OF SAID HOLDER AND TO THEREBY MOVE SAID WRITING UNIT INTO SAID ADVANCE POSITION, SAID WRITING UNIT BEING LOCKED IN SAID WRITING POSITION BY MEANS OF SAID BIASING MEANS URGING SAID WRIGING UNIT AGAINST SAID HINGE ACTUATING MEMBER AND IN TURN AGAINST SAID CLIP MEANS COMPONENT. 